Benefit of Bilingualism - Research Paper Example

Lecturer: OUTLINE: I. INTRODUCTION i. Defines bilingualism as simply communicating in two languages or speaking more than one official language ii. It provides a review indicating the benefits of more than one language acquisition. II. BENEFIT OF BILINGUALISM ON COGNITIVE i. Children develop greater ability to effective listening skills and understand easily. ii. They become creative, imaginative and develop new concept easily. iii. Better problem solving and high mental flexibility iv. Develop intellectual flexibility and higher processing of sensory information. v. Children develop higher self-esteem and mental ability. vi. Superior academic performance and improved communication skills. III. BENEFIT OF BILINGUALISM ON AGEING i. Bilingualism ageing people are able to maintain cognitive flexibility. ii. Bilingualism ageing people switch from one task to another effectively because of different pattern of brain tasks. iii. Cognitive and neurological advantages; thus maintaining cognitive reserve iv. Improved memory and executive brain control that can contribute to real global health benefits IV. BENEFIT OF BILINGUALISM ON SOCIAL SKILLS i. Bilingualism improves communication skills, which is vital for socialization ii. It offers cultural benefits in the globalised society iii. Learning bilingualism languages help in sharpening social skills. iv. It improves the social learning skills. V. CONCLUSION i. The conclusion sums up the benefits of bilingualism on cognitive, aging and social skills. Benefit of bilingualism Benefit of bilingualism Introduction Bilingualism is the use of more than one official language by one person in a state. In such states, the government provides bilingual curriculum in varied schools but English is considered as the first language followed by French and others. Baker (3, pr.3) defines bilingualism as the ability to speak two or more languages, or communicating in more than one language. Speaking more than one language offer varied benefits in the increased globalized earth. Two languages are better than one in the current globalized world because learning a foreign language or other languages are the effective steps towards creating a global village. The scientists have proved that being bilingual makes one smarter because it can create a significant effect on one’s brain. Therefore, bilingual language can improve the cognitive skills and social skills of a bilingual person, as well as, shield against dementia when an individual becomes old. Benefit of bilingualism on Cognitive Bilingualism has been linked to varied cognitive benefits in the contemporary globalised world. Since the introduction of bilingual programs in North America, many studies have revealed the way teaching bilingual programs have increased the intellectual development of kids in elementary schools (Baker 120 pr. 3). First, it has encouraged many children to develop greater ability of listening skills and understanding easily. For instance, the research study reveals the tasks given to children whereby they were given different colors and shapes to sort them out. Thus, the bilingualism kids were able to perform this activity faster and effectively than the monolingual kids (Bialystok 230). Bilingualism is essential because it encourages children to improve their learning skills and children develop better analytical orientation to language skills. Secondly, it has encouraged a greater ability for developing new concepts and bilingualism kids become highly creativity, imaginative; thus improving the thinking process of children. Bialystok spent many years studying on the way bilingualism kids sharpens their mind; thus, she found out that bilingualism kids are highly creative and imaginative than monolingual kids (Bialystok 230, pr.4). Bilingualism kids also have higher thinking capacity; thus, they can learn and recognize new words easily than monolingual kids. Thirdly, better problem solving and high mental flexibility among children are due to the study of bilingual programs. The study reveals that bilingual children outperform their monolingual counterparts on varied activities because their mind is active (Bialystok 220. Pr.5). They can easily solve problem because bilingualism language enables them to overcome language barriers and many of them have higher mental ability of determining things easily. They can also connect with others easily and their effective listening skills are vital for problem solving. Fourthly, bilingualism has encouraged children to develop intellectual flexibility and higher processing of sensory information. Bilingualism children develop meta-linguistic abilities easily and differentiation of literal meanings becomes clearer for them. They also have a positive effect towards intellectual advancement. This is because being bilingual enhances and enriches the mental development; thus improving sensory information. Marian and Shook (pr.5) argues that many millions of Americans nowadays use bilingualism languages such as Spanish, English, French and many others; thus, it has improved the cognitive ability of many American children. Fifthly, bilingualism has enabled children to develop higher self-esteem and mental health. The research study carried out reveled that children who acquire more than one language tend to improve their self-esteem (Baker 272 pr.2). Children communicating two languages have greater mental health; thus the can get rid of varied barriers to social and emotional health. The past research carried out on bilingual aspects revealed that bilingual children have less chances of becoming Alzheimer. Other studies carried out in the California University by scientist revealed that bilingualism people were more resistant to other diseases and many kids of such kind develop higher self-esteem. It also improves the working memory of children and creates meta-linguistic awareness (Adesope, Tracy, Terri and Charles 209, pr.1 and 3). Lastly, it has enabled children to be superior academic performers and many of them have improved communication skills; thus becoming good performers in varied leaning institutions. The research indicates that studying two languages improves the communication skills of the child; hence less prone to communication difficulties of foreign language (Baker 272, pr.2). Children have to constantly filter different language concepts; thus, they become attentive, interactive and good listeners. In this way, they end up improving their communication skills, which is a vital skill necessary for solving conflicts in the society. Benefit of bilingualism on Aging The benefits of bilingualism on aging include also the cognitive flexibility. The recent research study carried out in the American school of education psychology revealed that ageing people growing up with bilingual language are capable of managing their attention when presented with multiple tasks (Adesope et. al 209 pr. 1). The research further indicated that bilingualism ageing people were able to switch from one task to another effectively than the monolingual aging people. Secondly, the research study also discovered that bilingualism ageing people had varied brain task patterns because they have efficient and greater working memory than the monolinguals (Adesope et.al 209 pr.3. The other benefits include the cognitive and neurological advantages; thus enabling older people to maintain cognitive reserve. The research indicates that the cognitive and neurological advantages extend to older people; thus, bilingualism people appear to fend off their natural decline of cognitive function (Marian and Shook pr. 13). Lastly, bilingualism-ageing people also have improved memory and executive brain control that can contribute to real global health benefits (Marian and Shook pr. 13). These can help them to overcome illness such as Alzheimer and other brain issues because bilingualism keeps the brain of aging people agile. Benefit of bilingualism on Social Skills Bilingualism is beneficial on social skills because it improves the communication skills of the child; thus enabling him or her to socialize effectively with other people in the surrounding environment. Bilingualism enables one to communicate with others effectively within the family; thus creating a good family structure and maintaining proper relationship. Secondly, it offer cultural benefits; thus improving social skills of an individual vital for maintaining cultural heritage. The study indicates that language is an essential part of culture; thus, bilingualism people develop a wider range of cultural understandings and social harmony (Garcia 6). Maintaining cultural heritage is essential and bilingualism enables one to preserve cultural heritage, create competence and cultural awareness (Baker 120 pr. 1&2). It also enables one to socialize with others effectively in the globalised world; thus creating a global village. Thirdly, the research experts reveals that bilingualism increase the maternal language capability; thus allowing children to use their first language in improving literacy, problem solving skills and social knowledge (Adesope et.al 210). Learning bilingualism languages helps in sharpening social skills because learning process involves diverse social learning skills. Therefore, children with bilingualism languages show higher social learning skills and thinking skills effective for socialization as well as problem solving when conflicts arise. Lastly, bilingualism offer social benefits because the brain of bilingual people functions in a way that improves the social learning skills of an individual. The brain of a bilingual person enables one to switch effective from one aspect to another; thus leading to a clear signal for improved social skills (Marian and Shook pr. 16). This is vital because it enables bilingualism kids to perform better in schools; thus achieving higher academic performance vital for attaining their future goals. Conclusion The research studies found that bilingual language advance the cognitive skills and social skills of a bilingual person, as well as, shield against dementia when an individual becomes old. The benefits of bilingualism range from cognitive advantage to aging benefits to social skills benefits. First, the benefits on cognitive include better problem solving, high mental flexibility, ability to effective listening skills, communication skills and superior academic performance. Secondly, the benefits of bilingualism on ageing included maintaining cognitive flexibility, switching from one task to another, improved memory and neurological advantages; thus maintaining cognitive reserve. Lastly, benefit of bilingualism on social skills included cultural benefits, sharpening social skills and improved social learning skills. Woks Cited Adesope, Olusola, Tracy Lavin, Terri Thompson, and Charles Ungerleider. "A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Cognitive Correlates of Bilingualism." Review of Educational Research.80.2 (2010): 207-245. Print.https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:Tw5FqlOlcVUJ:rer.sagepub.com/lookup/resid/80/2/207%3Fview%3Dfull.pdf%26uritype%3Dcgi+&hl=en&gl=ke&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESgXEgVOSabzecer42uTUOd3axgWkK_a3lx2yuEQGAE9E3eybFQIFMgF-RJoLiwDuYt238w5uDp6bC1MPTVXGQCvVJLO57CJeKtRMDaJIZgTQ9_yXyrDOeD1qfqUY8rzw9SvThgr&sig=AHIEtbQDNcQQmmN22nw51622-gzWUVF8Vg Baker, Colin. Foundations of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism 5th edition. Buffalo, N.Y: Multilingual Matters, 2011. Print. http://books.google.co.ke/books?hl=en&lr=&id=fEt5VKBIMSsC&oi=fnd&pg=PR6&dq=Foundations+of+Bilingual+Education+and+Bilingualism+5th+edition.&ots=iEShQugYJU&sig=sxrwVOCrr372A4VF5Dd2DfclIUc&redir_esc=y Bialystok, Ellen. "Reshaping the Mind: the Benefits of Bilingualism." Canadian Journal of Experimental Psychology.65.4 (2011): 229-235. Print.https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:XPWebSFC1YAJ:www.apa.org/pubs/journals/features/cep-65-4-229.pdf+&hl=en&gl=ke&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEEShTmAfu1NNQk1YLDhLjxn4ShrtfH-J6kiNu3CW2BNqcSV3DxvG9w4urDxMUBM5Wkkdhtk9a8KfHqusygpRd25fmukPXpMe7r1YlsM5zVZHUjIOc_zmc4S32X4c56ncp-_ueyrxw&sig=AHIEtbSDwrhAEchh_J_cF_LbWTbvOUHHLw Garcia, Ofelia. Bilingual Education in the 21st Century: A Global Perspective. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, 2011.Internet resource. http://books.google.co.ke/books?id=bW6V__K95ckC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Bilingual+Education+in+the+21st+Century:+A+Global+Perspective&hl=sw&sa=X&ei=HMFOUeLQCsOXrge26YCoBQ&redir_esc=y Marian, Viorica and Shook, Anthony. The Cognitive Benefits of Being Bilingual.The Dana Foundation. October 31, 2012. Web. March 3, 2013. http://www.dana.org/news/cerebrum/detail.aspx?id=39638 Read More